bystanders

plural of bystander
as in spectators
someone who sees or watches something bystanders rushed to help the victim of the mugging

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bystanders Prosecutors said bystanders subdued Arredondo-Garcia until authorities arrived. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The beetles emerge in the summer to feed, mate and crash inadvertently into unsuspecting bystanders. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Because bystanders have no financial stake in the outcome, their read on signal colors, vehicle speeds, and lane use can be especially useful. Matthew Kayser, Kansas City Star, 20 Aug. 2026 Medics and crews with the New Haven Fire Department were assisted by bystanders in pulling the man from the water, according to Bruckhart. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026 But no injuries to protesters, bystanders or law enforcement resulted. Paula Wethington, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 The American Academy of Pediatrics recognized this shift in a landmark 2016 policy statement calling for pediatricians to actively engage fathers as caregivers, not bystanders. Nishant Pandya, STAT, 17 Aug. 2026 In those exceptions, officers had weigh risks to the safety of other motorists or bystanders. Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 Request the names and numbers of any bystanders who saw the incident or noticed the wet floor prior to your fall. Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bystanders
Noun
  • The gunfire erupted while the game was underway, sending players and spectators from the area, according to reports from the scene.
    Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The Freedom 250 Grand Prix, expected to draw about 140,000 spectators, is the culmination of events the president launched to mark the country’s birthday.
    Les Carpenter, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • But some investors and observers point to the product's internal leverage as a cause for concern and controversy.
    Oliver Renick, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Spotting a pair of smart glasses can require tech-savvy security staff, and enforcement may depend on users voluntarily disclosing their devices—or on watchful observers speaking up.
    Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • While many viewers praise the former child star as the beating heart of the series, her newfound success comes with heightened tabloid scrutiny, thecoverage wading into everything from her looks to her love life.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Is there a detail in the villa that viewers may or may not have seen on screen that is your favorite aspect of the home?
    Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bystanders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bystanders. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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